Rev. Dee Moore’s Trip to Minneapolis

As I write about my experiences in Minneapolis, January 21 through the 23rd, the things that most stand out in my mind about that journey were the residents of Minneapolis.

At the Renee Good site there were young black men and women standing in their own yard and sidewalk next to a fire pit to keep them warm. They were keeping vigil over the site and honoring her name. We don’t often think about the fact that we will be walking through someone’s neighborhood on our journey to give honor to both the dead and the living. We were reminded that this tragic death and execution occurred two weeks ago in front of the house where the memorial grew. This was a neighborhood on a small quiet street like so many that we grew up on ourselves. And every day people are trudging up and down their sidewalks. Most of them to lay more mementos of honor at the site, to pray, to walk peacefully. We are not to walk alone. Not because of who lives in the neighborhood, but the harm done to the neighborhood by the federal government and its agents.

There are approximately 10 Minneapolis city police officers within a half block radius of the memorial. They observed us and we observed them. Our host on the bus had told us not to linger to long. Don’t gather together in a large group. If you’d like to stop and pray or just meditate do so. When you see people in the neighborhood wave at them so that they know that you are there just to visit.

I did have the opportunity to thank the young people at the fire pit. To thank them for being here. Thank them for keeping the fire going and watching vigil. Their front yard would be forever marked by the brutal murder of Renee Good Their names will never be published in a local newspaper for the heroism and the vigilance that they share with those who come to visit. Their presence is a reminder that we are all visitors on this planet, even in our own neighborhood and the places we call home. Our greatest call is to love our neighbor. 

We were witness to the unending love of those who keep alive the memory of George Floyd. Every morning at 8 am people gather together to acknowledge the community’s loss. They go into the streets and check on their neighbors and the adjacent businesses. They invite people like our group of clergy and friends to come to witness. One young black woman led us through the streets of this neighborhood. The warmth and passion that she showed toward us was amazing. As she hugged us goodbye she thanked us for being present, for physically being visible to her neighbors. In return all she asked was that we might share our memories and our experiences with the rest of the world. To let everyone know that the folks that are being murdered in Minneapolis streets are not forgotten. No one is left behind.

Before these events on Friday, we gathered at a bilingual Church in the neighborhood near the George Floyd and Renee Good memorial sites. This was to allow us to have a warm gathering place before boarding our bus and place to depart from.

When we returned to the Church site, there was an urgency in the air and we were asked to “ quickly get inside and wait until it was safe for us to leave.” There was ICE activity within a few blocks of the Church.

Someone nearby had been taken from their home. Now the church was preparing for whatever help was needed. And at the same time, the team of volunteers had prepared homemade soup for us.

These people are amazing in the midst of the terror in the streets they were concerned about our comfort.

This church provides several hundred families with food on a monthly basis. Food that must be delivered because the people in the area are afraid to leave their homes to shop for groceries, go to work or church. This is truly a mission church. They feed the bodies and souls of so many people, both congregants and strangers. 

May we be courageous, lift up their message and resist evil wherever we go.

Blessings, 
Rev. Demetra D. Moore